David R Christensen

US Patent:

20220402624, Dec 22, 2022

Filed:

Aug 16, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/888662

Inventors:

- Burbank CA, US
David Loyal Christensen - Glendale CA, US
Morgan Thomas Pope - Burbank CA, US
Grant Imahara - Los Angeles CA, US
Tony Dohi - Glendale CA, US

International Classification:

B64D 31/06
B64C 39/02
B64D 27/02

Abstract:

A robot including a hybrid fan-based and fluid-based propulsion system to provide thrust, such as deceleration during fall to create a smooth landing or to provide a quick reduction in velocity, and to provide actuation/controlled motion, such as to hover after quick deceleration and to control orientation or pose. The hybrid propulsion system uses discharging of pressurized fluid and exhausted gas (or fluid in some cases) from ducted fans (or propellers, impellers, and the like) to provide controlled thrust and/or lift forces. The hybrid propulsion system uses of pressurized fluid for generating larger or primary thrust and quick changes in velocity. The hybrid propulsion system includes a fan-based propulsion assembly with ducted fans that use environmental air (or fluids) to provide lower or secondary thrust. Both types of propulsion can be integrated into a robot or robotic figure to move the robot during flight (e.g., during falling or hovering).

US Patent:

20200187565, Jun 18, 2020

Filed:

Dec 12, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/217879

Inventors:

- Studio City CA, US
David Christensen - Studio City CA, US
Mike Elam - Thousand Oaks CA, US
Alex Gilbert - Thousand Oaks CA, US
Ravi Sawhney - Thousand Oaks CA, US

International Classification:

A24F 47/00
A24F 7/00
A61M 15/00
G05B 19/4155
B05B 17/06

Abstract:

The present disclosure is directed to a personal vaporizing device having multiple methods for activating the personal vaporizing device. In one embodiment, the personal vaporizing device may be activated based on user preferences. In another embodiment, the personal vaporizing device may be activated based on an operating characteristic of the device and/or vaporizable material.

US Patent:

20200088758, Mar 19, 2020

Filed:

Sep 19, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/135952

Inventors:

- BURBANK CA, US
DAVID LOYAL CHRISTENSEN - GLENDALE CA, US
GUNTER D. NIEMEYER - PASADENA CA, US

International Classification:

G01P 15/08
G01P 15/18
H04W 4/02
G01B 11/00

Abstract:

A system configured for stabilizing or balancing objects in an upright state. The system includes a motion system with an upper support surface for receiving an object that is positionable in a vertical state. The system includes a sensor assembly with at least one sensor generating sensor data by tracking at least one of three dimensional (3D) position and angular movement for the object. The system includes a controller with a stabilizing module to process the sensor data to determine when the object is tipping from the vertical state, and, in response to the tipping away of the object from the vertical state, the stabilizing module generates control signals to modify operations of the motion system to move at least a portion of the upper support surface in contact with a lower contact surface of the object through stabilizing movements, whereby the object remains balanced in the vertical state.

US Patent:

20200038767, Feb 6, 2020

Filed:

Oct 10, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/597956

Inventors:

- Burbanik CA, US
DAVID LOYAL CHRISTENSEN - GLENDALE CA, US

International Classification:

A63G 31/02
E04B 5/43

Abstract:

A haptic floor system is provided that produces large vibration-based effects through the use of one-to-many panel or plate assemblies that can each be selectively operated by a controller in a programmed manner or in response to sensor outputs. Each of these panel or plate assemblies may be labeled a “quake plate assembly” as the special effect delivered by the haptic floor system can provide a person supported by one of the quake plate assemblies with ground trembling and vibrations similar to that felt in an earthquake or when a super strong fictional character strikes the floor nearby or a large animal or robot walks or runs by the person. Each quake plate assembly may include a thin plate or panel with an upper contact surface for supporting people or objects and an opposite lower surface, and one-to-many actuators may be provided on the lower surface of the thin plate.

US Patent:

20190176342, Jun 13, 2019

Filed:

Jul 7, 2017

Appl. No.:

16/315724

Inventors:

- Stanford CA, US
David L. Christensen - Glendale CA, US
Mark R. Cutkosky - Palo Alto CA, US
Srinivasan Arul Suresh - Stanford CA, US

International Classification:

B25J 15/00
C09J 7/00

Abstract:

The present invention provides a shear gripper device using fibrillar, gecko-inspired adhesives that have the characteristics of being non-tacky in its default state and requiring no normal force to grip a surface. The adhesion is turned “on” by the applied shear load, and “off as the shear load is removed. The shear adhesive gripper is able to grasp large, deformable or delicate objects using a delicate touch.

US Patent:

20180217662, Aug 2, 2018

Filed:

Oct 23, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/790124

Inventors:

- Burbank CA, US
GÜNTER D. NIEMEYER - PASADENA CA, US
DAVID LOYAL CHRISTENSEN - GLENDALE CA, US
ROBERT BRISTOW - BURBANK CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/01
A63B 24/00
A63B 22/02
A63F 13/214
A63F 13/24

Abstract:

A modular floor with active tiles that utilize numerous friction or contact disks each with a raised segment or portion on their edges that together provide a planar contact surface for the active tile. Each disk is oriented at a fixed tilt angle to define which part of the disk's outer surfaces act as the raised portion, and each disk is oriented to position where the raised surface is located so as to define the direction that a supported object is moved over the modular floor. The drive system typically includes, for each disk assembly, a disk orienting mechanism along with a disk rotation mechanism to rotate the disk at a rotation rate about its central axis. The controller of the motion system operates the disk orienting mechanism to orient the disk so that a particular location on the disk behaves as the raised portion where an object is contacted.